Neurologic abnormalities in HTLV-I- and HTLV-II-infected individuals without overt myelopathy.

BACKGROUND: Human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV) type I is the causative agent of HTLV-associated myelopathy (HAM)/tropical spastic paraparesis, and a number of HAM cases with HTLV-II infection have also been reported. However, despite some reports, it is unclear whether HTLV-I or -II infection is associated with other neurologic manifestations. METHODS: An analysis of medical histories and screening neurologic examinations from a prospective cohort of 153 HTLV-I, 388 HTLV-II, and 810 HTLV-seronegative individuals followed up for means of 11.5, 12.0, and 12.2 years was performed. Participants diagnosed with HAM were excluded. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for age, sex, race or ethnicity, income, educational attainment, body mass index, alcohol and cigarette consumption, injection drug use, diabetes, and hepatitis C virus status, using generalized estimating equations for repeated measures. RESULTS: HTLV-I and -II participants were more likely than seronegative participants to have leg weakness (ORs 1.67 [95% CI 1.28-2.18] and 1.44 [1.16-1.78]), impaired tandem gait (ORs 1.25 [95% CI 1.07-1.47] and 1.45 [1.27-1.64]), Babinski sign (ORs 1.54 [95% CI 1.13-2.08] and 1.51 [1.18-1.93]), impaired vibration sense (ORs 1.16 [95% CI 1.01-1.33] and 1.27 [1.14-1.42]), and urinary incontinence (ORs 1.45 [95% CI 1.23-1.72] and 1.70 [1.50-1.93]). For both HTLV-I and -II participants, higher odds of sensory neuropathy by monofilament examination were no longer significant after adjustment for confounding. CONCLUSIONS: These results provide strong evidence that human T-lymphotropic virus (HTLV)-I and -II are associated with a spectrum of predominantly motor abnormalities in patients without overt HTLV-associated myelopathy. Further investigation of the clinical course and etiology of these abnormalities is warranted.

Practical aspects of out-of-hospital transfusion.

Out-of-hospital transfusion (OOHT) occurs in nontraditional settings, such as a patient's home, a physician's office, or a convalescent facility. Requests to issue components for OOHT present new challenges to some blood centers and transfusion services that are accustomed to issuing blood for use only in the hospital setting. Concerns about patient safety, a paucity of practical information on establishing programs, and a lack of specific practice guidelines may discourage some organizations from offering these services. Participation in OOHT programs, however, may present new patient care and customer service opportunities to blood centers and transfusion services. The purpose of this article is to familiarize readers with the essential elements for establishing a safe program. Relevant regulatory, legal, and financial issues are also addressed.

Fetal cystic hygroma and Turner's syndrome.

Large nuchal cystic hygromas were observed in five second-trimester aborted fetuses at autopsy. Two female fetuses with generalized edema were karyotyped as 45,X. One of these was the twin of a 46,XX normal female sibling. The association of generalized edema with large nuchal cystic hygromas was seen only in these two fetuses and represents strong phenotypic evidence of Turner's syndrome. However, the absence of hydrops was not a reliable indicator of normal karyotype. One fetus without generalized edema was karyotyped as 47,XY, +21, inv(9). The remaining cases had normal karyotypes. Placental histology was not useful in discriminating monosomy X from other conditions, but placental tissue culture was important in obtaining a cytogenetic diagnosis. Karyotyping is recommended in all cases of fetal cystic hygroma.